RightNow Technologies Vice President Steve Daines (R) has ended speculation on his political aspirations by officially announcing this morning his campaign to unseat Senator Jon Tester. The fifth-generation Montanan intends to take his years of private sector experience to Washington D.C after sending Tester back to his organic farm near Big Sandy.
Progressive Democrat Jon Tester has seen his popularity in Montana wane after voting for the stimulus and healthcare bills that Montanans largely opposed. His voting behavior puts him in the mainstream of his party, having sided with Senate Democrats in over 90% of votes, With his partner in crime, Max Baucus, he managed to avoid virtually all contact with Montanans- most of them angry- prior to voting on the bills. In at least one instance, Baucus and Tester arrived at a listening session in Billings to find protesters outside the venue. They promptly left the event instead of facing the anger of their constituents. In contrast, Republican Representative Denny Rehberg held countless listening sessions and town hall meetings across the state.
Baucus has received most of the criticism over the stimulus and healthcare, in part due to his position chairing the US Senate Finance Committee as well as his public role in passing the sweeping healthcare legislation that he authored yet later admitted not ever reading. Montanans need to remember however that Tester is just as out of touch with Montanans as Max Baucus. In fact, Tester votes even worse than Baucus. According to the JBS Freedom Index, a congressional scorecard based on the US Constitution, Baucus receives an overall score of 8% while Tester’s score is a paltry 5%. Montanans should be absolutely ashamed of themselves for electing these thieves in the first place. In contrast, while far from perfect, US Representative Rehberg’s overall score is 79% with the most recent session scoring of 90%.
Let’s send someone who has a long history of success and job creation to the US Senate. Running on a platform of more jobs, less government, Steve Daines is the real deal.
Were you at the announcement today? What a great crowd! So anxious to be a part of this campaign!!!
Yes, it was indeed a great crowd! Daines will make a fabulous replacement for Tester. Won’t it be nice to hear the words “Senator from Montana” and not cringe?
Sorry we didn’t connect. I always enjoy meeting fellow bloggers – but I don’t know who you are :-P.
I’m very new to the blogging world so I definitely don’t know who you are either! I have actually never met another blogger other than the ones who blog on montanafesto. I’ve heard some other bloggers calling us astroturf and questioning others as to what they know about us, so I’m not sure I want to meet too many of Montana’s bloggers. For the most part they all seem to lean very far left.
There are some neat people in the Montana conservative blogosphere. I don’t know all of them, but I’ve met a few. Where are you based – Bozeman?
I’m based in Missoula but I travel the state for work…. more the last couple of months than usual, but I will be in Missoula all winter.
Great crowd and lots of people not from Bozeman. That said, Gallatin County will be Dainesville, and other candidates need not apply.